Evan Turner on 76ers’ LeBron Fit and Towns’ Knicks Deal
Turner: 76ers are a top-five team “off talent alone”
Evan Turner is very familiar with LeBron James and how long it can take for super teams to gel.
The former No. 2 overall draft pick starred for the Philadelphia 76ers from 2010 until 2014 and played against the James-led Miami Heat in his debut game. He also matched up against the Heat in the playoffs in the “Big Three’s” first season together, which also featured the likes of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
The Heat would eventually win two championships during the James era, but they lost in the NBA Finals during their first season together.
Fast forward 15 years later and James is with a new super squad in the 76ers, featuring stars such as Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid.
Turner said they’re a top five team off of talent alone.
“They’re definitely a top five team just off talent alone,” said Turner in a one-on-one interview. “They’re unbelievably talented. I’m starting to see some of the media pieces coming out of there too. I’m liking how it’s flowing. LeBron seems like he’s enjoying being there. Maxey still has that same smile on. I believe just knowing Jaylen Brown a little bit, his energy and aura starting to seem like he’s enjoying himself. I’m loving it from what’s going on from the top four. I think they’ll be pretty good as long as they play and go into the season the right way.”
With a roster this loaded, Philadelphia’s title odds are already drawing attention. Traders who want to track how those odds move throughout the season can also follow the action on prediction markets, where a polymarket invite code can be used to get started.
Turner wants 76ers to manage Embiid’s workload
Injuries have been an issue for former NBA MVP Embiid throughout his career, and he was once again affected by it as he was limited to just 38 games last season, 19 games during the 2024-25 season and 39 games during the 2023-24 season.
Turner stressed that the 76ers need to play “chess, not checkers” and make sure guys like Embiid are available for the playoffs.
“They have to play chess, not checkers, and make sure guys are available for that playoff run,” Turner said. “You look at Joel Embiid. I would only like to see him play 55 games a year, and maybe if we’re lucky, play 55 games and maybe play 28 minutes or less. You understand what I’m saying? Limit his minutes, but making sure the team knows how to play with him on the floor, no matter what. I think last playoff series when he played against the Celtics and he balled out, but it came out of way of the lack of preparation and playing and chemistry with the team because he was hurt so much.
“I think this year when you’re going into those deep playoff runs, you’re trying to be a championship team, you have to be connected and know the nuances of who to work with, what will work, and know your go-to’s towards the end,” Turner continued. “I just want to make sure those guys are able to be healthy and able to be connected because there’s a lot of great teams out there, and the Knicks are working on something that’s been going on for years now.”
Maxey leads the scoring order, with LeBron set to “orchestrate”
There is much speculation over what will be the pecking order for the 76ers with so many stars along with the rising V.J. Edgecombe on the roster. Turner believes it’ll be Maxey as the lead scoring option with everyone else following suit.
“Yeah, I think naturally, Maxey has an unbelievable game,” said Turner of Maxey being the lead scoring option. “He plays at a high pace, but he’s a point guard. He’s going to have the ball in his hands a lot. Things work well through him. I think one thing that occurs is even when he gets off the ball, and Jaylen Brown and LeBron, or even Joel are drawing so much attention. Maxey is just a naturally great scorer. You know what I mean? He can shoot and he can score.”
Turner said it’ll be James who will “orchestrate” the offense. He played that role with the Los Angeles Lakers as the third scoring option recently behind the younger stars such as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
“I think it also comes down to not saying LeBron isn’t going to be killing, but he’s going to have to orchestrate this,” said Turner. “Although the Sixers have such dynamic scorers nowadays, they’re not all dynamic passers or playmakers. I think LeBron is going to have to step up by default and make sure he takes on some of that responsibility of playmaking, setting the table, and slowing things down when it does come in the half court.
“Nick Nurse’s teams historically always have a history of forcing turnovers and getting out and scoring,” Turner continued. “So I think ideally they’re going to want to score early in the shot clock, but when it’s coming down to those tough teams that set offenses and trying to break through, I think LeBron is going to have the rock, and I think Maxey should even be able to break through as well, just through the flow of the offense. Jaylen Brown, he’s always going to get his buckets and his wiggle against anybody.”
Turner said he envisions the pecking order for the Sixers as far as scoring will be as follows: Maxey, Brown, James and then Embiid as the fourth scoring option. He also gives major props to the 76ers’ supporting cast, which features the likes of Edgecombe, Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade.
“We haven’t even talked about Anfernee Simons right now or Dean Wade, who I think are secret weapons when they play with guys like LeBron, like the same way I’m saying Maxey’s going to be open,” said Turner. “If LeBron has a box, he’s going to change the geometry of the floor. Dean Wade is an elite three-point shooter, and over the past three or four seasons, Anfernee Simons has shot 42% catch and shoot. Are you going to sit there and going to be like I believe we’re going to see a 10 assists year for LeBron, just based off how many scorers and how many assets he has, and young guys getting out and running. This is a very, very dynamic offense with talent.
He also mentions the presence of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a veteran who previously won a championship with James as members of the Lakers back in 2020.
“I love V.J. Edgecombe’s game,” said Turner. “I just wonder if there’s going to be enough ball out there, but then also enough spacing on that floor, which is why I’m intrigued by KCP. I’m intrigued by Dean Wade, and like I said, I think Anfernee Simons is going to be a secret weapon because when you sit there, Edgecombe is going to get out and transition and score early. I believe he’s going to develop, but they’re going to need floor spacing, and they’re going to need somebody to play off the rock, and hopefully he can continue to develop. But they already have elite shooters and proven guys as well.”
Turner: LeBron could play “five more years”
James is coming off of his record 22nd All-Star appearance after leading the Lakers to a playoff series win. Turner said the 42-year-old could play another “five” years if he really wanted to.
He predicts that James will play more than another two years. The four-time MVP signed a two-year deal with the 76ers.
“I was kind of surprised because I thought he’s going back to Cleveland, or I thought there were other spots to go,” said Turner of James’ decision to sign with Philly. “Now when I look at it, I’m like, ‘This is a great choice by him. Actually, this wasn’t shocking. This was actually a great basketball choice.’ I think he plays more than two years. He’s not slowing down. If you look at after the first playoff series, he just took out the Houston Rockets with a great coach and Ime Udoka, great young talent, Kevin Durant, everything, and he led a team through the first round, which is absolutely tough, especially when you have your top two guys going down as well.
“I think he still has more in the tank,” Turner continued to say of James. “You look at the starting five. I don’t see him slowing down. Who’s better? I mean, who’s better? It’s almost like the Stefon Diggs thing. If I’m not the better one, who’s a better number two than me that’s just elite? I think Jalen Williams from OKC is one of the best top 15 players in the world, and I would throw ‘Bron up against him any night. Jalen Williams is elite. LeBron has got five or 10 more years the same way with Kevin Durant. They’re like, ‘Where am I going?’ There’s nothing else to do. This shit is easy.”
When the scenario of James winning a fifth ring — it would place him one behind Michael Jordan — is brought up, Turner said he doesn’t believe James will return if he does win another ring. In other words, he doesn’t believe chasing Jordan’s number of titles is on James’ priority list.
“I think LeBron knowing him, I don’t know if he would come back after he won that unless he wanted to, because he already said after he beat the Warriors, he thought he’s the greatest player of all time, and I think he truly believes that,” said Turner of James. “I think when you do numbers and stats and everything, I’m from Chicago — MJ is the G.O.A.T.. Don’t ever get it wrong. But it becomes your own personal thing. What’s enough? What is great? You went to eight straight finals. Do you understand what I’m saying? You’ve done so much. They won’t appreciate you till you’re gone.
“I remember talking to Steph Curry at one point, and he was like, ‘Compared to LeBron James when it came to numbers. How many more MVP’s do you want? How many more of this do you want,’ Turner continued. “And he’s like, ‘Maybe I want like a couple more MVPs’ I’m like for what? Like why? Why do you care about that trophy? You’re Steph Curry. The same thing with LeBron. That trophy doesn’t matter to you. It’s just for the rest of us now. He cemented it the first time before he ever hit 30. Everybody’s like, ‘OK, cool. He’s cemented.’ We understand this, he does not need this trophy. It got to that point where LeBron said, “Bro, you are basketball.’ I’m thinking, this dude played 30 years. This is gonna be absolutely crazy. But I’m grateful for whatever he showed, the level he’s at, the commitment that he’s truly at. I hope LeBron, the man, the player gets as much respect as anything because what we’re watching is absolutely crazy, and it’s just mind-boggling, bruh. He’s had two MJ careers.”
Turner weighs in on Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation
All eyes are on the 76ers entering the season, but it’s the Knicks who are the defending champs. While they retained essentially their entire core from last season, the uncertain contract situation surrounding Karl-Anthony Towns has dominated headlines entering the season.
Towns has two years left on his deal with a player option for the 2027-28 season. However, the Knicks have decided to halt contract talks to focus on the upcoming season.
That decision has left Turner surprised considering Towns’ impact on the Knicks’ championship season.
“I thought it was pretty crazy,” said Turner. “I think it’s one thing for them to focus if they weren’t able to get it done. But I’m kind of just sitting on the side about it hopefully that it doesn’t affect what the Knicks have going on. What more do you want? You want me to win two championships? You want me to play the best I ever played and sacrifice? I think one thing Mike Brown had said prior to the season: we win, everybody eats, which is usually the sentiment. I don’t know what’s going on or battling a second apron. I’m one of those people if you get a Costco size of ketchup, you’re appreciative of it and don’t complain when it’s over. That’s kind of like when you look at the Warriors or you look at the Knicks, you got to go all in while you can. There’s no guarantee that in four or five years you’re going to be great, or you’re going to find a different recipe for success, and this might be your best team. I believe that they should definitely reward the guys, especially in a prominent career, and ride it out.”
When asked if he believes the situation will be resolved and that the Knicks will sign KAT to a new deal, Turner is optimistic but not willing to fully commit to the idea.
“I would just say I would hope so because they won a championship,” said Turner. “I don’t understand the conversation of being like, ‘Hey, maybe I don’t take $280 (million), but I take 250. Cool, but you’re telling me to take 200 or whatever else, and we play in the biggest city in the world, and we did all this. I would hope they figure it out because it makes absolutely no sense. Even when people are like, ‘You should take less.’ No, basketball — like Draymond Green said — basketball is the most positive, most up it’s ever been. Why would I take less when it’s the most profitable?”
Turner further defended Towns’ stance on a new contract wanting more money.
“I don’t know where these conversations come from,” said Turner. “I wanted it to make sense, and I love a second apron conversation, But I don’t know, bro. I’m trying to get my bread, you know what I mean. Like, ‘Hey, big dog, you can’t just get my money.’ You won a championship. When you go to the country club, everybody thinks you the coolest dude. I did my work. No matter what, the Knicks brand is going to eat off this forever. Like call it what it is. You pay to play — that’s it. Like with the Warriors, when they did their thing with Draymond, it looks crazy. But right now, this is the respect that you give for what you built.”
IMAGE CREDIT: ALAMY